Think you have what it takes to create a character as funny as Bart, Homer or Krusty the Clown? Enter "The Simpsons" online contest and you could see your creation come to life on the show!

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of "The Simpsons," the Fox network has developed a contest in which fans, age 18 and older, send in their ideas for a new Simpsons character.

As you might expect, submissions should be "pithy and funny," said executive producer Al Jean, who will help judge them along with series creator Matt Groening.

Entries should describe a human character's traits, including name or nickname; age; appearance; occupation and catch phrases (think "D'oh!").

The winner gets a trip to Los Angeles to work with the show's producers and animation director to develop the character, who will appear on a 2010 episode featuring Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.

The contest is a tip of the hat to fans, Jean said. "We can't thank them enough," he said. "We're now in uncharted waters: We've gone longer than any scripted show in prime-time history. It's a cliche, but it wouldn't be so except for these people who've loved the show all these years."

The contest runs until 10:59 p.m. CDT Oct. 24. Check it out at www.thesimpsons.com.

ASSOCIATED PRESS